Palmerston, 1784-1865

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1927. Reprint. Second printing. Hardcover. Good. xiv, 548 pages. Illustrations. Index. Authorities. Name of previous owner present. Spine faded. Cover has some wear and soiling. Minor edge chipping at page 545/6. Philip Guedalla (12 March 1889 - 16 December 1944) was an English barrister, and a popular historical and travel writer and biographer. His wit and epigrams are well-known, one example being "Even reviewers read a Preface," another being "History repeats itself. Historians repeat each other." He also was the originator of a now-common theory on Henry James, writing that "The work of Henry James has always seemed divisible by a simple dynastic arrangement into three reigns: James I, James II, and the Old Pretender". Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC, FRS (20 October 1784 - 18 October 1865), was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century. For most of 1830 to 1865 he dominated British foreign policy when Britain was at the height of its power. Popularly nicknamed "Pam", he was in government office almost continuously from 1807 until his death in 1865, beginning his parliamentary career as a Tory, switching to the Whigs in 1830, and concluding it as the first Prime Minister of the newly formed Liberal Party from 1859. He succeeded to his father's Irish peerage in 1802. He became a Tory MP in 1807, and was made Secretary at War in 1809, responsible for the finances of the army. He held the job until 1828, entering the cabinet in 1827 when George Canning became Prime Minister.